The Optical Society Names Susan Houde-Walter the 2020 Stephen D. Fantone Distinguished Service Award Recipient
2005 OSA President honored for outstanding service
WASHINGTON-The Optical Society (OSA) is pleased to name Susan Houde-Walter, LMD Power of Light Corp., USA, the 2020 Stephen D. Fantone Distinguished Service Award recipient. Houde-Walter is recognized for outstanding service to the Society through numerous advisory and leadership roles, including 2005 President, Board of Directors Member and Chair of the Optics and Photonics News Editorial Advisory Committee.
"Susan Houde-Walter's commitment to service has had an immensely effective impact on OSA," said OSA CEO Elizabeth Rogan. "Her volunteer efforts, both through advisory and leadership roles, are invaluable to OSA and the global optics and photonics community.
Susan Houde-Walter received her doctorate at the Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, USA where she subsequently joined the faculty and earned tenure as Professor of Optics. In 2005, Houde-Walter left the University to run LaserMaxDefense, a women-owned small business that she co-founded. LaserMaxDefense manufactures laser systems for government customers. She is inventor on 26 patents, and has published 100+ papers and invited talks on optoelectronic design and optical materials.
Houde-Walter began her OSA service as a graduate student, later with various program and publication committees. She served on the OSA Board from 1994 - 1996, and was later elected as OSA 2005 President. Her development of international leadership, monthly essays in OPN, interviews of the 2005 Nobel Prize Laureates, executive team development and unprecedented fundraising success characterized her year as President. She now serves on the Strategic Planning Committee. She is an OSA Fellow.
The Stephen D. Fantone Distinguished Service Award is presented to individuals who, over an extended period of time, have served The Optical Society in an outstanding way, especially through volunteer participation in its management, operation or planning in such ways as editorship of a periodical, organization of meetings, or other service to the Society. The award was established in 1973 by the Board of Directors and in 2013 was named in honor of Stephen D. Fantone, who served as OSA Treasurer from 1996 to 2013.
